Novel Hemispherical Scanner for a Coherent Fiber LIDAR System, Phase I

Wind Energy Wind energy generation is one of the fastest growing industries in the world and LIDAR technology is gaining a great deal of momentum in this market segment as a means to assess potential wind farm sites, optimize the performance of current facilities, and to protect expensive wind turbines from damage. A wind LIDAR for both wind assessment and operations where its longer range (14 km) combined with an attractive price can be utilized to replace multiple LIDARS or anemometer towers. Yachting and Harbor Subscriptions Maritime markets potentially include ocean-going vessels as well as subscription wind data and weather sales to harbors and ports. There are four opportunities to address in this market: (1) the owners of luxury yachts, (2) the yacht manufacturers, (3) the yacht charter operators and (4) the harbor market where ships of all types operate. Meteorological Environmental scientists have successfully used the WindTracer^REG system to accurately track the direction and dispersion of factory atmospheric emissions and volcanic ash. The WindTracer^REG LIDAR has also been used by atmospheric scientists to study the formation of typhoons over the Pacific Ocean. Of particular interest to this program is the detection, tracking, and measurement of wake vortices and turbulence. The major incentives for wake vortex and turbulence monitoring are twofold: safety and efficiency. A coherent LIDAR system has the ability to dynamically track wake vortices and turbulence along the glide slope path of an aircraft to a much greater resolution than other meteorological measurement systems. Furthermore, a fiber-based system will be greatly reduced in size, weight, and power (SWAP) over the only aviation LIDAR system currently available commercially. More »